A finite deformation analysis of polycrystal by considering the influence of grain boundary

By combining grain boundary (GB) and its influence zone, a micromechanic model for polycrystal is established for considering the influence of GB. By using the crystal plasticity theory and the finite element method for finite deformation, numerical simulation is carried out by the model. Calculated results display the microscopic characteristic of deformation fields of grains and are in qualitative agreement with experimental results.

Stress analysis of ZrO2/SiO2 multilayers deposited on different substrates with different thickness periods

The effects of repeating thickness periods on stress are studied in ZrO2/SiO2 multilayers deposited by electron-beam evaporation on BK7 glass and fused-silica substrates. The results show that the residual stress is compressive and decreases with an increase of the periods of repeating thickness in the ZrO2/SiO2 multilayers. At the same time, the residual stress in multilayers deposited on BK7 glass is less than that of samples deposited on fused silica. The variation of the microstructure examined by x-ray diffraction shows that microscopic deformation does not correspond to macroscopic stress, which may be due to variation of the interface stress. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America.

Electron microscopic examination of the viromatrix of Rana grylio virus in a fish cell line

Rana grylio virus (RGV), a Ranavirus belonging to the family Iridoviridae, assembles in the viromatrix which is a factory for viral genome replication and particle assembly. Ultrastructural studies of the viromatrix will clarify the pathway of assembly. The viromatrix and quantitative changes in RGV infected epithelipma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells, one of fish cell lines, were studied by electron microscopy. It was shown that viromatrices were adjacent to the nucleus, and the electron density was lower than that of the surrounding cytoplasm. The viromatrix contained virus particles with different forms, electron-dense materials and amorphous structures which included tubules and membranous materials. Tubules were often observed in direct continuity with empty capsids. Several bundles of intermediate filaments were seen alongside the viromatrix and crystalline aggregates. Large clusters of mitochondria occurred in proximity to viromatrix. A total of 990 cells profiles were examined. The results showed that 394 cells contained viromatrix: 89.3% contained one, and 10.7% contained two to four viromatrices. The number of viromatrices increased gradually and reached a peak at 16 h p.i. The viromatrix area at 24 h p.i. increased up to 7.4 +/- 0.69 mu m(2) which was three-times lower than that at 6 h p.i. The number of empty capsids within viromatrix was generally more than that of "full" particles at different time points, and there was a strong positive correlation between them. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The effects of LT AlN buffer thickness on the optical properties of AlGaN grown by MOCVD and Al composition inhomogeneity analysis

We have investigated the growth of AlGaN epilayers on a sapphire substrate by metalorganic chemical vapour deposition using various low-temperature ( LT) AlN buffer thicknesses. Combined scanning electron microscopy and cathodoluminescence investigations reveal the correlation between the surface morphology and optical properties of AlGaN films in a microscopic scale. It is found that the suitable thickness of the LT AlN buffer for high quality AlGaN growth is around 20 nm. The Al compositional inhomogeneity of the AlGaN epilayer is attributed to the low lateral mobility of Al adatoms on the growing surface.

Investigation on the N-eff reverse annealing effect using TSC/I-DLTS: Relationship between neutron induced microscopic defects and silicon detector electrical degradations

Neutron induced defect levels in high resistivity silicon detectors have been studied using a current-based macroscopic defect analysis system: thermally stimulated current (TSC) and current deep level transient spectroscopy (I-DLTS). These studies have been correlated to the traditional C-V, I-V, and transient current and charge techniques (TCT/TChT) after neutron radiation and subsequent thermal anneals. It has been found that the increases of the space charge density, N-eff, in irradiated detectors after thermal anneals (N-eff reverse anneal) correspond to the increases of deep levels in the silicon bandgap. In particular, increases of the double vacancy center (V-V and V-V-- -) and/or C-i-O-i level have good correlations with the N-eff reverse anneal. It has also been observed that the leakage current of highly irradiated (Phi(n) > 10(13) n/cm(2)) detectors increases after thermal anneals, which is different from the leakage current annealing behavior of slightly irradiated (Phi(n) < 10(13) n/cm(2)) detectors. It is apparent that V-V center and/or C-i-O-i level play important roles in both N-eff and leakage current degradations for highly irradiated high resistivity silicon detectors.

Statistical analysis of microscale gas flows and stock price changes

First, recent studies on the information preservation (IP) method, a particle approach for low-speed micro-scale gas flows, are reviewed. The IP method was validated for benchmark issues such as Couette, Poiseuille and Rayleigh flows, compared well with measured data for typical internal flows through micro-channels and external flows past micro flat plates, and combined with the Navier-Stokes equations to be a hybrid scheme for subsonic, rarefied gas flows. Second, the focus is moved to the microscopic characteristic of China stock market, particularly the price correlation between stock deals. A very interesting phenomenon was found that showed a reverse transition behaviour between two neighbouring price changes. This behaviour significantly differs from the transition rules for atomic and molecular energy levels, and it is very helpful to understand the essential difference between stock markets and nature.

Thermal analysis of microstructural evolution of Al2O3 surface modified layers

Solidification behavior and microstructural evolution of surface modified layers in plasma cladding technique are studied via numerical simulations. Both the coupling effect of temperature and solid volume fraction are considered in the proposed thermal analytical model, by which the transient temperature distributions are calculated and the shape of melting pool is determined. Furthermore, we perform microscopic thermal analysis on the nucleation and growth behaviors of ceramic hardening phases and dendrites, as well as the kinetics of related two-phase flow systems. By comparing with experimental observations, the evolution mechanisms of the morphology of Al2O3 ceramic hardening layer are explained. Based on the above results, a relationship among the scanning velocity of plasma stream, dendritic growth rate and the advancing speed of solid/liquid interface is found, and an energy criterion is proposed for predicting the pushing/engulfing transition of ceramic particles by grain growth fronts. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In-situ microscopic FT-IR spectroelectrochemical investigation of polythiophene film modified electrode

A polythiophene film was electrochemically deposited on a Pt micro-plate electrode and investigated by cyclic voltammetry and in-situ reflection microscopic FTIR spectroscopy. The FTIR analysis showed that the electropolymerization of thiophene on the Pt surface was affected Lv the surface adsorption processes of thiophene molecules. Two adsorption modes were identified. Two structure models of the polythiophene chain were observed simultaneously. It was proposed that the good conductibility of the polythiophene film was originated from a co-vibratory equilibrium of the link part of model I and model II.

Binary alloys of nylon 1010 and ethylene-propylene copolymer: Chemical, morphological, and mechanical analysis

The modification of ethylene-propylene copolymer (EPM) has been accomplished by melt grafting of maleic anhydride (MAH) molecules promoted by radical initiators. The resulting EPM-g-MAH and EPM have been used to obtain binary nylon 1010/EPM or nylon 1010/EPM-g-MAH blends by melt mixing. It was found that the EPM-g-MAH copolymer used as the second component has a profound effect upon the properties of the resulting blends. This behavior has been attributed to a series of chemical and physicochemical interactions taking place between the two components. The interactions are due to the presence of the anhydride functionality on the copolymer and do not occur when this functionality is absent. The interaction has been confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, and scanning electron microscopic.

Biochemical and electron microscopic characterization of the F1F0 ATP Synthase from the hyperthermophilic eubacterium Aquifex aeolicus

The F1F0 ATP synthase has been purified from the hyperthermophilic eubacterium Aquifex aeolicus and characterized. Its subunits have been identified by MALDI-mass spectrometry through peptide mass fingerprinting and MS/MS. It contains the canonical subunits alpha, beta, gamma, delta and epsilon of F-1 and subunits a and c of F-0. Two versions of the b subunit were found, which show a low sequence homology to each other. Most likely they form a heterodimer. An electron microscopic single particle analysis revealed clear structural details, including two stalks connecting F-1 and F-0. In several orientations the central stalk appears to be tilted and/or kinked. It is unclear whether there is a direct connection between the peripheral stalk and the 6 subunit. (c) 2006 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.